He probably wouldn't mind if Wayne Dorsey delivered his present to the Ole Miss coach a few days early.

Dorsey's birthday is Oct. 9. He'll spend it in Oxford, Miss., with Nutt and his team, an official visitor for Ole Miss' Oct. 10 date against defending SEC West champion Alabama.

"Coach Nutt said he wanted me to come down and see the atmosphere for myself," Dorsey said Monday night after finishing up an evening meeting with the rest of his Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College teammates. "I think that's when I'm probably going to come down to Ole Miss."

Dorsey, a 6-foot-8, 255-pound defensive end from Baltimore, Md., said he's been more focused on his schoolwork _ he's on pace to graduate from MGCCC in December and enroll at his school of choice in January _ and the upcoming junior college football season _ than he has on recruiting. However, Dorsey is evolving into one of the most coveted recruiting targets in the country.

Throughout the recruiting process, Dorsey has refused to name a favorite. He didn't deviate from that on Monday, though he perhaps gave some hints as to which schools are seriously under consideration for his college services.

Dorsey named Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State and South Florida as schools that have been "constants" in his recruitment.

As for the Rebels, who graduate defensive ends Greg Hardy, Marcus Tillman and Emmanuel Stephens after this season, they continue to remain a major contender for Dorsey's signature.

"Ole Miss was my first offer, so I guess I respect that more," said Dorsey, who is being recruited to Ole Miss by Rebels wide receivers coach Ron Dickerson Jr. "They were the first to recognize my talent and recognize what I can do at a high level, but I really don't have a leader. When I finally get a chance to sit down and take a couple of breaths for myself, I'll sit down and make a list.

Dorsey told Logan Lowery of BulldogBlitz.com, also a Rivals.com affiliate, on Monday that Mississippi State is very much in consideration as well, in part due to the presence of former MGCCC teammates Chris White and Sean Brauchle.

"I still like Mississippi State," Dorsey told BulldogBlitz.com. "I'm still interested in them. I see myself fitting in there maybe if I was to go there. Chris White and Sean are up there and those would be two familiar faces to help my transition out. I still feel the same about them because I haven't been paying attention to any schools or recruiting to be honest."

Both Ole Miss and Mississippi State are also recruiting Dorsey's roommate, MGCCC defensive tackle/fellow Baltimore native James Carmon. The Rebels, Bulldogs and Alabama are widely considered to be the leaders for Carmon's college services.

"We've talked about (playing together at the next level)," Dorsey said. "If it so happens that way then it would be a blessing. We're both looking for the best situations for ourselves."

Dorsey, who had 10 ½ quarterback sacks as a freshman at MGCCC, said he didn't have a set timetable regarding when he'll make a decision.

"I think I'll know it when I feel it," Dorsey said. "I've looked over every situation already in my free time. I feel as though now when I go on visits it's going to be about where I want to train and live for the next 2 ½ years. That's pretty much it.

"I'm not going to take a visit to a school I'm not serious about going to. I'll have to have an opportunity to start and play. I feel like I'm already behind the eight-ball since I've spent two years at junior college."